Flush valve

ABSTRACT

A FLUSH VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR WATER COSETS AND THE LIKE INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING COLUMN AND A VALVE PLUG AND WATER RESERVOIR MOUJNTED THEREON. THE LOWER END OF THE VALVE PLUG COOPERATES WITH A VALVE SEAT TO PASS FLUSH WATER WHEN THE PLUG IS RAISED. WHEN THE PLUG IS RASIED, THE WEIGHT OF THE WATER RESERVOIR OF THE ASSEMBLY CAUSES THE PLUG TO PIVOT AND CATCH ON THE COLUMN. AS FLUSH WATER PASSES FROM THE WATER CLOSET TANK, WATER DRAINS FROM THE RESERVOIR ALLOWING THE VALVE PLUG TO PIVOT TO A NROMAL POSITION AND DROP DOWN THEREBY CLOSING THE FLUSH VALVE. SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS OF A FLUSH VALVE ASSEMBLY ARE DISCLOSED, ONE OF WHICH ALLOWS ADJUSTMENT OF THE DRAIN RATE FROM THE WATER RESERVOIR OF THE ASSEMBLY.

United States Patent 3,003,156 l0/l96l Alexander....................

Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner-Richard J. SherAttorney-Lyon & Lyon [72] Inventor IrvlngA.Ward

LosAngeles, Calif. 745,536

[21 Appl. No. [22] Filed July 17, 1968 EL L i lfi fiwlt flfil 2.7

Assignee Modern Faucet Ml g. co.,

Los Angeles;

ABSTRACT: A flush valve assembly for water closets and the an n u likeincluding an upstanding column and a valve plug and 4/55, waterreservoir mounted thereon. The lower end of the valve plug cooperateswith a valve seat to pass flush water when the [52] U.S.CI..............

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flush valve. Several embodiments of a flush valve assembly aredisclosed, one of which allows adjustment of the drain rate from thewater reservoir of the assembly.

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OOOQOOO INVENTOR. MV/A/G A. M50

66 BY i '4 s A TTOE/VEVS FLUSH VALVE This invention relates to flushvalves for water closets and the like, and more particularly to a newflush valve assembly principally for use with one-piece water closets.

Typical water closets include a bowl and a tank communicating with thebowl for holding a supply of water at a sufficient head for flushing thebowl through a drain. A valve assembly is generally provided to supplywater for washing the bowl during flushing, refilling the bowl to asuitable level and refilling the tank, as well as some type of flushvalve device for supplying the water from the tank to the bowl forflushing. Conventional apparatus of this nature have not been entirelysuitable, particularly with the more modern one-piece water closets.With such devices, the length of time the flush valve is open generallyis dependent upon the buoyancy thereof, and as the water level in thetank diminishes the flush valve generally closes too soon to accomplishproper emptying of the tank.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newflush valve.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new flush valvewhich is not dependent upon buoyancy to control the length of time thesame is open.

It is another object of this invention to provide a flush valve whichcan be controlled as to the length of time it remains open.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flush valve whichcontains a seat very near the bottom of the tank of a water closet andwhich includes a built-in overflow.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved flushvalve for one-piece water closets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new flush valve forhaving a large overflow capability.

A further feature of this invention is to provide an improved flushvalve which is relatively low in cost and relatively simple to installin a water closet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flush valve havingimproved sealing characteristics.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a flush valve whichmay be readily adjusted as to the time the same remains open, hasnonplugging characteristics and is not subject to unreliable operationas a result of minor mineral deposits.

These and other objects and features of this invention will become moreapparent through a detailed consideration of the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional elevational view of a preferred embodimentof a flush valve assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a strap used inthe assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spring clip used in the assembly ofFIG. ll;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrates theflush valve in an open or cocked position;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a valve plug of the assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view ofa column member of the assembly of FIG.1;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of an element used in the assemblyfor permitting adjustment of the length of time the flush valve is open;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a toggle used in the assembly forsecuring the same to a water closet;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative flush valve assembly;

FIG. Ill is a cross-sectional elevational view of the assembly of FIG.I0;

FIG. 12 is a similar cross-sectional view illustrating the flush valveof FIG. 10 in an open position;

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along a line l3-ll3ofFIG. 11;

FIG. M is a partial cross-sectional view taken along a line M-M ofFIG.Ill; and

FIG. I5 is a partial perspective view of a retaining element for theassembly.

Turning now to the drawings, and first to FIGS. ll through 9, apreferred embodiment ofa flush valve assembly is illustrated mountedwithin a tank It), only a portion of a wall II and bottom 12 of the tankbeing illustrated. The flush valve assembly. generally designated 113,includes a column or center post I4 secured to the base I2 of the tank,a hollow valve plug 15 and a cocking reservoir I6. The column M (noteFIG. 7) includes a central portion I8 and three radial ribs I9 through2B. The lower portions of the ribs 119 through 2ll extend outwardly andfit within a valve seat member 22 which rests within a bore 23 in thebottom 12 of the tank 10, and the seat member is sealed by means of aflexible gasket M. An upper flange 25 of the seat member 22 provides aseat for the valve plug 15. A tie rod 27 is coupled by means of a rollpin 28 with a toggle 29 to secure the column 14 to the tank III]. Thisarrangement allows ready alignment of the valve assembly with the tank.The tie rod 27 extends upwardly through the column I4 and is secured tothe upper end thereof by a nut 30. The rib 19 includes a scar orshoulder 32, and a guide 33 is secured to the upper end of the column I4for purposes which will be described subsequently. An inclined guidesurface 34 may be provided at the shoulder 32 as seen in FIG. 7. Thecolumn I41 may be formed of a suitable plastic, and the tie rod 27,toggle 29 and nut 30 made of brass. The seat member 22 preferably ismade of stainless steel.

The valve plug IS includes a tubular member 36 having an internal guiderib 37 and guide channel 38. The upper end of the guide channel 38includes a hole 39 therethrough for receiving an end 410 of a springclip 41. The spring clip 41 includes a portion 32 which engages a rubberstrap 43 for coupling the strap to the valve plug 15. The upper end ofthe strap 43 is coupled with a hook Ml or other suitable member to thetrip lever of the water closet. The raised areas on the strap 43 allowfor ready adjustment between the trip lever and valve assembly. It willbe apparent that movement of the trip lever pulls the strap 33 therebyraising the valve plug 15 to open the flush valve as illustrated in FIG.5. The lower end of the valve plug IS includes a pair of flanges 46 and47 which retain a resilient flat plastic or rubber washer 48 whichengages the seat 25 of the seat member 22 when the valve plug 15 is inits lower position as illustrated in FIG. I to terminate water flowthrough the bore 23in the base 12 of the tank 10.

The guide 33 of the column M includes a slot 50 which rides on the guiderib 37 of the valve plug. The guide 33 also includes a finger 51 whichrides within the guide channel 38 of the valve plug.

The cocking reservoir I6 is affixed to the side of the valve plug l5opposite the strap 43, and includes a bore 54 extending through thebottom thereof to provide a drain for the water within the reservoir 16.Briefly, flushing is accomplished by raising the valve plug IS, the samepivoting or tipping as illustrated in FIG. 5 because of the weight ofthe water within the reservoir 116. A portion of the flange 46 at thelower end of the valve plug I5 engages the shoulder 32 on the rib 19 ofthe column M thereby cocking the flush valve to an open position. As thewater level in the tank 10 recedes, water drains from the cockingreservoir l6 thereby reducing the weight on the side of the valve plugand allowing the same to pivot counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 andthen drop to the seated or closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1. Theguide surface 34 prevents the guide rib 37 of the plug from locking onthe side of the shoulder 32. It is to be understood that the shoulder 32may take other forms, it only being necessary that it present asufficient surface area to retain the plug 15 in the cocked positionuntil a predetermined amount of water drains from the reservoir 16.

The timing cycle of the flush valve can be adjusted to compensate forwater closet variation as a result of production differences, designdifferences, or the like, by means of a worm member 56 extending throughthe bore 54 of the cooking reservoir 16. The position of the worm member56 within the bore 54 controls the flow rate of water through the boreand thus determines the length oftime before which the valve plug [5will return to its uncocked position. A strap 57 or the like which maybe formed of plastic is coupled with the worm member 56 and secured to afinger 58 at the upper end of the tubular member 36 of the valve plug15. The long end 59 of the spring clip 41 overlies the top ofthe strap57 and abuts the finger 58 as illustrated in FIG. 2 to retain the strap57 in positron.

When the flush valve is in the closed position as seen in FIG. 1, a goodseal occurs between the relatively thin flat flexible plastic or rubberwasher 48 and the seat 25. Because of the flat shape of the washer 48,the most relaxed and most easily deflected form is accomplished therebyassuring an optimum seal between the seat 25 and the valve plug 15 underthe slight head of water typically encountered in the tanks of waterclosets. The tubular member 36 of the valve plug 15 may have arelatively large diameter, for example approximately a 2 inch boretherethrough, to provide a large overflow capacity. This capacity isonly slightly restricted by the column 14. Overflow occurs through thetop of the tubular member to the bore 23. Large overflow capacity isimportant in one-piece water closets because of local code requirements.

As noted earlier, when the water closet trip lever is actuated to flushthe toilet, the strap 43 which is connected to the side of the valveplug 15 opposite the cocking reservoir 16 lifts the plug thereby tippingthe same so that the sear notch or shoulder 32 on the column 14 isengaged by the flange 46 of the plug. The valve plug 15 is held inengagement with the shoulder 32 while flushing of the closet occursbecause of the weight of the cocking reservoir 16. The plug ispreferably made from plastic having a specific gravity of approximately1 and, thus, as water in the tank recedes the plug effectively attainsweight. The weight of the plug 15, because it is supported on only onenarrow sector of its diameter and because a guide pivot point 60 (FIG.5) is provided between the plug and the column, would cause the plug tofall and close except for the counterbalance effect of the cockingreservoir 16. By controlling the rate at which the cocking reservoir 16drains, the dropping of the valve plug can be readily controlled. As theplug drops, because of its considerable weight and because the column 14is provided with three guide ribs, the plug 15 becomes aligned with thecolumn 14 and the washer 48 nicely centers on the valve seat 25 andprovides firm contact to effect a good seal.

An alternative embodiment ofa flush valve assembly is illustrated inFIGS. 10 through 15. In this assembly, a column 65 having a plurality,such as four, ribs is secured to the bottom 66 of a water tank 67. Thelower end of the column 65 is supported in a flush bore opening 68 bymeans of a ring member 69 and brackets 70 both coupled with the lowerend of the column and secured together by suitable screw fasteners. Thering member 69 is coupled with a resilient valve seat 71, which isencircled by a channel member 72, and has an outwardly flared seatportion 73. A fulcrum ring 74 is coupled with the column 65 and may beretained in any of several positions along the column 65 by means of acotter pin 76 thereunder. Adjustment of the position of the ring 74controls the time the flush valve is open. A rib 77 of the column 65includes a shoulder 78 which functions similar to the shoulder 32 of thecolumn 14 of the assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 9.

A hollow valve plug 80, which may be tubular in shape, is mounted aboutthe column 65. The valve plug 80 includes a lower flange 81 whichengages the seat portion 73 of the resilient valve seat 71, and includesan intumed upper flange 82 which engages the shoulder 78 of the column65. A cocking reservoir 84 is affixed to the valve plug 80, and thisreservoir includes a drain hole 85 which allows wuter to drain from thereservoir 84 us the water level in the tank 67 recedes. A guide 87 isaffixed to the top of the column 65 and includes an aperture 88 throughwhich a pull cord 89 extends. The lower end of the pull cord is securedat 90 to the valve plug 80,

and the upper end thereof is coupled to the trip lever or the like ofthe water closet. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. [0 through 15,a cup 92 which is smaller than the reservoir 84 is affixed to the valveplug and is filled with water at all times to provide a counterweightfor the flush valve assembly.

When the tank 67 is full, the reservoir 84 and cup 92 also are filledwith water. When the cord 89 is pulled, the reservoir 84 is elevatedpartially above the water level in the tank 67 thereby causing the valveplug 80 to tip and latch with the shoulder 78 as illustrated in FIG. 12.As the water in the tank 67 recedes, water drains from the reservoir 84through the drain hole thereby reducing the weight of the reservoir 84.This reduction in weight, along with the cup 92 becoming exposed as aresult of the receding water level in the tank 67 eventually causes thevalve plug 80 to tip to its uncocked position as illustrated in FIGS. 10and 11. This occurs because of the effective increase in weight of thecup 92 and the decrease in weight of the reservoir 84. The lower end ofthe valve plug 80 then seals against the valve seat completing theflushing operation. As with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1through 9, the column, valve plug, reservoir and cup preferably areformed ofa suitable plastic.

The present embodiments of this invention are to be con sidered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the inventionbeing indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims therefore are intended to be embraced therein.

lclaim:

l. A flush valve for water closets and the like comprising:

stationary column means including an upstanding member adapted to becoupled adjacent, a flush water outlet of a water closet;

valve means positioned about said column means, with said column meansextending upwardly into said valve means and said valve means beingmovable generally axially with respect to said column means, said valvemeans having a lower end for seating with a valve seat and being openthrough the length thereof to provide an overflow passage; and

imbalance means coupled with said valve means, said imbalance means uponraising of said valve means with respect to said column means causingsaid valve means to tip, said column means including means for engagingsaid valve means and holding the same when said valve means tips.

2. A flush valve as in claim I wherein said lower end of said valvemeans includes flange means and substantially flat gasket means retainedby said flange means, said gasket means normally forming a seal withsaid valve seat.

3. A flush valve as in claim 1 wherein said imbalance means comprisesreservoir means, said reservoir means having an opening therein forallowing fluid to drain therefrom.

4. A flush valve for water closets and the like comprising:

column means adapted to be coupled with a flush water outlet of a watercloset, said column means including an upstanding member having aplurality of ribs, one of said ribs including a shoulder thereon;

valve means positioned on said column means, said valve means beinghollow and providing an overflow passageway therethrough to said flushwater outlet, said valve means having a lower end with sealing meansthereon for seating with a valve seat for normally preventing water flowpast said valve seat to said flush water outlet;

reservoir means coupled with said valve means for normally retainingfluid for causing said valve means to tip and catch on said shoulder ofsaid column means when said valve means is moved with respect to saidcolumn means, said reservoir means having an opening therein forallowing fluid to drain therefrom; and

variable restriction means cooperating with said opening in saidreservoir means for controlling the rate of drain of fluid from saidreservoir means.

5. A flush valve as in claim 4 wherein said variable restriction meansincludes a worm member extending through said opening in said reservoirmeans, said worm member being adjustable with respect to said opening.

6. A flush valve for water closets and the like comprising: column meansadapted to be coupled with a flush water outlet of a water closet, saidcolumn means including an upstanding member having a plurality of ribsand a fulcrum member; valve means positioned on said column means, saidvalve means being hollow and providing an overflow passagewaytherethrough to said flush water outlet, said valve means having a lowerend for seating with a valve seat for normally preventing water flowpast said water seat to said flush water outlet; first reservoir meanscoupled with said valve means for normally retaining fluid for causingsaid valve means to tip and catch on said column means when said valvemeans is moved with respect to said column means, said reservoir meanshaving a drain opening therein for allowing fluid to drain therefrom;and second reservoir means coupled with said valve means normallyretaining fluid for causing said valve means to disengage with saidcolumn means as fluid drains from said first reservoir means. 7. A flushvalve for water closets and the like comprising: column means includingan upstanding member adapted to be coupled adjacent a flush water outletof a water closet; valve means positioned about said column means andincluding a substantially tubular member mounted around said columnmeans, said column means including a plurality of ribs for enablingalignment of said valve means thereon, and said valve means having alower end for seating with a valve seat and being open through thelength thereof to provide an overflow passage; and imbalance meanscoupled with said valve means, said imbalance means upon raising of saidvalve means with respect to said column means causing said valve meansto tip, said column means including means for engaging said valve meansand holding the same when said valve means tips. 8. A flush valve as inclaim 7 wherein said column means and said valve means have cooperatingguide members for guiding said valve means as the same is moved withrespect to said column means.

9. A flush valve for water closets and the like comprising: column meansincluding an upstanding member adapted to be coupled adjacent a flushwater outlet of a water closet;

valve means positioned about said column means with said column meansextending upwardly into said valve means and said valve means beingmovable generally axially with respect to said column means, said valvemeans having a lower end for seating'with a valve seat and being openthrough the length thereof to provide an overflow passage; and

imbalance means coupled with said valve means, said imbalance meanscomprising reservoir means and said reservoir means having an openingtherein for allowing fluid to drain therefrom with said opening being inthe form of an elongated bore, and worm means mounted within said boreand adjustable with respect to said bore for controlling the rate ofdrain of fluid from said reservoir means, said imbalance means uponraising of said valve means with respect to said column means causingsaid valve means to tip, said column including means for engaging saidvalve means and holding the same when said valve means tips.

10. A flush valve for water closets and the like comprising:

column means including an upstanding member adapted to be coupledadjacent a flush water outlet of a water closet; substantially tubularvalve means positioned about said column means, with said column meansextending upwardly into said valve means and said valve means beingmovable generally axially with respect to said column means, said valvemeans having a lower end for seating with a valve seat and being openthrough the length thereof to provide an overflow passage;

imbalance means coupled with said valve means and comprising reservoirmeans, said reservoir means being mounted on one side of said valvemeans and having an opening therein for allowing fluid to draintherefrom, said imbalance means upon raising of said valve means withrespect to said column means causing said valve means to tip, saidcolumn means including means for engaging said valve means and holdingthe same when said valve means tips; and

second reservoir means mounted on substantially the opposite side ofsaid valve means from said first named reservoir means.

11. In a flush valve for water closets and the like including a tiltablevalve plug for controlling the flow of flush water to a flush wateroutlet, the improvement comprising:

column means including an upstanding member adapted to be coupledadjacent a flush water outlet of a water closet;

said valve plug being mounted substantially coaxially on said columnmeans with said column means extending up wardly into said valve plugand said valve plug being movable generally axially with respect to saidcolumn means;

reservoir means coupled with said valve plug for normally retaining asupply of water for causing said valve plug to tilt with respect to saidcolumn means upon predetermined movement of said valve plug, saidreservoir means including an opening therein; and

variable restriction means cooperating with said opening in saidreservoir means for controlling the rate of drain of water from saidreservoir means, said variable restriction means including a worm memberextending though said opening in said reservoir means, said worm memberbeing adjustable with respect to said opening.

12. A flush valve for water closets and the like comprising:

column means including an upstanding member adapted to be coupledadjacent a flush water outlet of a water closet, said column meansincluding a plurality of rib member;

valve means positioned about said column means, said valve means havinga lower end for seating with a valve seat and being open through thelength thereof to provide an overflow passage; and

imbalance means coupled with said valve means, said imbalance meanscomprising reservoir means and said reservoir means having an openingtherein for allowing fluid to drain therefrom with said opening being inthe form of an elongated bore, and worm means mounted within said boreand adjustable with respect to said bore for controlling the rate ofdrain of fluid from said reservoir means, said imbalance means uponraising of said valve means with respect to said column means causingsaid valve means to tip, said column means including a shoulder on oneof said ribs for engaging said valve means and holding the same whensaid valve means tips.

13. A flush valve for water closets and the like comprising:

column means including an upstanding member adapted to be coupledadjacent a flush water outlet of a water closet, said column meansincluding adjustable fulcrum means mounted on said upstanding member;

valve means positioned about said column means, said valve means havinga lower end for seating with a valve seat and being open through thelength thereof to provide an overflow passage; and

imbalance means coupled with said valve means, said imbalance meanscomprising reservoir means and said reservoir means having an openingtherein for allowing fluid to drain therefrom with said opening being inthe form of an elongated bore, and worm means mounted within said boreand adjustable with respect to said bore for controlling the rate ofdrain of fluid from said reservoir means, said imbalance means uponraising of said valve means with respect to said column means causingsaid valve means to tip, said column means including means for engagingsaid valve means and holding the same when said valve means tips.

